Michael Fuller

Experimental Archaeological Gardening, 2023

White flower of commercial bottle gourd.

Havasupai Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) from USDA PI 451713.  - Average weight based on 10 seeds = 0.118 grams

10 seed measurements: 16.31 x 7.57 4.58,  15.10 x 6.22 x 4.91,  15.57 x 5.93 x 3.66,  15.22 x 6.92 x 4.50,  15.22 x 6.92 x 4.50,

14.46 x 5.85 x 4.51,  14.11 x 6.75 x 4.47, 13.65 x 5.12 x 4.18,  15.48 x 5.73 x 4.59, 14.99 x 6.19 x 4.40, and 11.72 x 4.88 x 3.90.

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Cherokee Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) from Seed Savers shelled beans remind me of Mexican black beans (Spanish, Frijoles Negros).

3 bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) seeds from Burpee seeds; 14 seeds weigh 3.01 grams = average of 0.215 grams per seed. 

18.72 x 8.22 x 3.86        18.70 x 8.96 x 4.37

16.51 x 8.03 x 3.48.       20.90 x 7.78 x 4.00

16.94 x 7.73 x 3.83.       18.04 x 7.83 x 3.74
16.44 x 7.41 x 3.41        17.24 x 6.88 x 4.04
17.60 x 7.64 x 3.92        16.79 x 7.37 x 3.74
16.71 x 7.87 x 3.82        16.06 x 7.73 x 3.11
15.23 x 7.18 x 3.29        17.71 x 7.45 x 2.95

Three Sibley squash were harvested in mid August after approximately 100 days of growing.

Big = 17.8 cm long, 8.8 cm diameter, and 525 grams weight.

Medium = 13.0 cm long, 9.8 cm diameter, and 550 grams weight (shown in photograph)

Small = 9.9 cm long, 7.6 cm diameter, and 275 grams weight

They are surprising smaller than I expected and feel more like a summer squash than a fall squash.

Fairfax Osage Brown Corn (Zea mays) from USDA PI 213756

Osage Brown corn struggled in the garden during summer of 2022, but will be replanted during summer 2023 with both seed from 2022 and seed from USDA being combined. 

Average weight of a seed based upon 10 seeds = 0.218 grams

5 seed measurements: 6.38 x 8.47 x 8.04,  7.50 x 7.43 x 4.77, 

7.77 x 7.07 x 5.76,  7.15 x 8.05 x 5.88, and 8.09 x 7.50 x 7.42

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Arikara Yellow Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) from Seed Savers did not do well in the garden during 2022, so it will not be replanted in 2023. I will plant a Cherokee Black Bean, instead.

Average weight based upon 6 seeds = 0.280

6 seed measurements: 12.59 x 7.07 x 5.45, 

12.82 x 6.95 x 5.05,  12.58 x 6.49 x 4.98, 

14.75 x 7.16 x 5.02,  14.52 x 7.01 x 4.99, and

12.07 x 6.20 x 4.48

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Cherokee Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) from Seed Savers was very vigorous and climbed up the sunflower plants - often pulling them down. I supported the sunflowers with poles that allowed the beans to hang free. Pods are green, then turn reddish brown, and mature into a light brown. Plants growing on the sunflowers easily attained height of 1.5. to 2.0 meters. 

Sibley Squash (Cucurbita Maxima) purchased from Everwilde Farms reached its maximum size in early August and the vines began to dry.

3 dipper gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) seeds from Lake Valley seeds; 17 seeds weigh 2.44 grams = average of 0.143 grams per seed.

13.99 x 6.99 x 2.49.     17.75 x 9.29 x 3.75
15.18 x 9.43 x 3.37      14.27 x 8.92 x 2.50
14.99 x 7.21 x 2.82      14.40 x 8.76 x 2.85
16.40 x 6.51 x 2.73      14.54 x 9.75 x 4.99
16.78 x 8.21 x 2.73      14.75 x 7.24 x 2.62

Sibley Squash (Cucurbita Maxima) purchased from Everwilde Farms produced long runners with yellow flowers. I did not hand pollinate the squash or gourds.

Cherokee Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) from Seed Savers.
Average weight based upon 10 seeds = 0.243

10 seed measurements: 9.52 x 6.04 x 3.85,

12.91 x 6.51 x 4.97, 11.20 x 6.80 x 4.73, 

12.16 x 6.35 x 4.61,  11.89 x 6.38 x 4.98, 

11.44 x 5.80 x 4.26,  12.76 x 6.29 x 5.45,  

10.11 x 6.26 x 4.52,  11.53 x 6.83 x 4.47,  

12.26 x 6.61 x 4.83

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4 small, ornamental gourd (Cucurbita pepo) seeds.

21 seeds = 1.27 grams = average of 0.06 grams per seed.

Hopi Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) grown 1997 at STLCC-FV.  - Average weight based on 10 very dry seeds = 0.087 grams

10 seed measurements (Length/width/thickness): 14.05 x 7.24 x 3.49,  12.01 x 7.14 x 3.40,  12.49 x 7.08 x 2.88,  10.27 x 6.39 x 3.93,  13.13 x 7.79 x 4.23,  13.38 x 7.39 x 4.24,  13.11 x 8.28 x 4.56,  13.18 x 7.32 x 4.31,  12.75 x 7.40 x 3.64, and 9.70 x 7.31 x 4.25.

First harvest of beans on 19 August 2023. Planted on 3 May 2023. That is 108 days from planting to harvest for seed.

Developing fruit of a bottle gourd. Squash and gourds were planted at different ends of the garden.

Sibley Winter Squash (Cucurbita Maxima) purchased from Everwilde Farms

Pods were primarily two length: Long (13 to 14 cm) and short (9 to 10 cm). Number of beans per pod ranged from 3 to 8 with a modal of 7. Mean number is 6.4 beans. 

Average seed weight based on 10 examples = 0.209

10 Seed measurements: 15.18 x 10.24 x 4.56,  11.66 x 8.57 x 3.96, 14.45 x 10.11 x 4.51, 14.20 x 10.82 x 4.19,

15.04 x 9.46 x 4.95,  15.24 x 10.22 x 3.68,  14.88 x 9.15 x 4.30,  15.17 x 10.33 x 4.32,  15.52 x 9.65, 5.19, and 12.99 x 9.77 x 4.00

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Havasupai Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) from USDA PI 451713 are multi-headed, but always have one larger head and many average size heads.